Page 56 of Between the Boards
I drag a hand over my face, guilt crashing into me all at once. “I thought I was protecting her,” I mutter. “I didn’t realize I could’ve been screwing her over too.”
Gabriel studies me carefully for a moment before sighing. “Well, you didn’t just risk Kairi,” he says. “You risked everyone on this team.”
“Right.” I lean back in my chair and stare at the floor. “I’m sorry, Coach?—”
“No. I don’t want an apology, Colton. I want a promise,” he says, cutting me off. “The next time someone says something to your teammate that you don’t like, you do not throw punches. Not while representing this team. You understand me?”
I nod once. “Yeah.”
“That’s not a promise.”
I force myself to hold his stare. “I promise I won’t throw anymore punches.”
The room falls quiet and Gabriel pushes off the table and returns to his desk, lowering himself into his chair slowly this time.
“Good. Because the next time you fight someone while representing this team…” His cold eyes hold mine. “You’re gone.”
The words hit hard. Gone, just like that. Like I’m easily replaceable; like after everything I did today—stepping up for Griffin, a perfect score, the win—it still doesn’t matter whether I’m here or not.
A familiar numbness crawls through my chest, one I’ve felt before back when my father looked me dead in the eyes and told me surfing was a waste of my life; back when he made me choose between my family and the only thing that’s ever made me feel free and happy. And when I chose surfing, he stopped looking at me like I was his son.
I swallow hard and shove all of it down where it belongs, because I’m used to this. I’m used to people only loving what I can do for them until I become an inconvenience.
“Got it, Coach,” I say evenly. “Anything else?”
Gabriel watches me for a beat too long, noticing the way I shut down, but he doesn’t comment on it.
“Yeah, one more thing,” he says. “Griffin’s going to miss a good chunk of the season so you’ll be covering his position while he’s out.”
“Understood,” I say quietly, standing from my chair.
Gabriel narrows his eyes. “You don’t seem very excited.”
I almost laugh. Was this supposed to excite me? I’m still a substitute, still only here because someone else couldn’t be.
“I’m happy, Coach,” I lie smoothly. “Just still feeling the pain of that punch.”
He studies me for another second before finally waving me off. “Get some rest. Practice resumes tomorrow morning.”
I node once and leave without another word. The house is quiet, most of the team out for dinner. I head upstairs, straight to my room, and the second the door shuts behind me, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I pull it out of my pocket and take a seat on my bed as I open the message. It’s a mirror selfie from Kairi of her outfit for our date tonight. I stare at it, longer than I should, and do something I know I’ll regret as I begin typing.
Colton:
Sorry to do this, but I need to cancel tonight.
Got a killer headache.
Going to sleep it off now. Night.
I watch as three dots appear and disappear a few times before they disappear completely without a response. I toss my phone on the nightstand and fall back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling in anger.
A knock at my door pulls me out of my thoughts and before I can even sit up properly, Kairi barrels in, still wearing the dress. She’s holding a glass of water in one hand and pain killers in another.
“I wanted to bring these up before you fell asleep,” she says carefully. “Thought they might help.”
I don’t say anything as she crosses my room and sets both down on my nightstand before turning toward me.
